Corvallis Environmental Center

Farm to school: the corvallis farm to school program works to increase children's access to and consumption of fruits and vegetables, healthy grains, and legumes while teaching about good nutrition and encouraging healthy food choices. It integrates food and nutrition programming into benton and linn county school districts with activities that engage children in growing, preparing, and eating fresh, local and healthy foods. The program supports outdoor and place-based learning goals by utilizing school gardens or local farms for broad-based curriculum. Program activities are held in the classroom, cafeteria, school gardens and in the community. We also offered outdoor garden adventures, providing day camp programming for students on no-school days. Camps are offered in the summer months as week-long, garden-themed outdoor learning adventures for children ages 3-11.

Food for families: the corvallis environmental center's food for families program helps alleviate hunger and food insecurity in corvallis by filling gaps in the local emergency food system. The goal of the food for families program is to improve the health of vulnerable populations in corvallis and increase their food self-sufficiency while simultaneously engaging and educating community members in sustainable agricultural production practices.the program provides fresh produce year round to partner emergency food distribution centers, shelters, and social service agencies in corvallis who distribute our fresh vegetables to individuals and families in need. In 2024, we donated over 5,000 pounds of fresh produce which was harvested from the garden and delivered fresh to the local food pantries and social service agencies we partner with for distribution to their clientele. Cooking demonstrations continued this year for the south corvallis food bank clients during the summer utilizing fresh produce and other items available at the food bank that day.